Sharpening stand for a cutlery device

Abstract

A cutlery device is provided having a blade with a sharpened edge and an opposite, unsharpened back. The cutlery device also includes a tang extending from the blade which is at least partially enclosed in a handle. The tang has a tapered thickness to produce a cutlery device that is balanced when grasped with some fingers on the handle and some fingers on the blade. The back of the blade is curved so that a finger may be comfortably pressed against the back. The handle is curved for comfort and pieces of the handle are secured on the tang with rivets of varying length to accommodate the shape of the handle. A sharpening aid is also provided for the cutlery device which has at least one angled wall for positioning a sharpening surface at a sharpening angle, permitting the cutlery device to be held with the blade positioned vertically during a sharpening operation.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
       1. A sharpening aid for a cutlery device comprising: 
       a stand having a base and two symetrically opposing wall structures protruding from the base; each wall structure having a wall fixed at a predetermined angle from vertical such that the wall structures form a substantially V-shaped recess;  
       an elongated sharpening device selectively engageable along a portion of its length against either wall of the wall structure, the sharpening device being adapted to present a sharpening surface at the angle for sharpening a blade of the cutlery device; whereby, the blade is held substantially vertical against the sharpening device for sharpening the blade at the angle.  
     
     
       2. The sharpening aid according to  claim 1 , wherein the walls are arranged at equal, but opposite angles from vertical. 
     
     
       3. The sharpening aid according to  claim 1 , wherein the angled portion of one or more of the walls comprises a shaped recess. 
     
     
       4. The sharpening aid according to  claim 1 , wherein the sharpening device comprises a rod shaped sharpening stone. 
     
     
       5. The sharpening aid according to  claim 3 , wherein the sharpening device comprises a rod shaped sharpening stone, said rod shaped stone being adapted to be arranged along its length against said recess such that the rod shaped sharpening stone assumes the predetermined angle of the wall. 
     
     
       6. The sharpening aid according to  claim 1 , wherein the angle from vertical is about 20 degrees. 
     
     
       7. A sharpening aid for a cutlery device comprising: 
       a stand having two opposing walls fixed at a predetermined angle from vertical; the walls being positioned to intersect at their base forming a vertex;  
       an elongated sharpening device having a tip portion and a length; the tip portion being selectively engageble in the vertex and the length being selectively engageable against either wall, the sharpening device being configured to present a sharpening surface at the predetermined angle of either one of the walls for sharpening a blade of the cutlery device; whereby, the blade is held substantially vertical against the sharpening device for sharpening the blade at the predetermined angle.  
     
     
       8. The sharpening aid of  claim 7 , wherein the recessed portion extends the length of the at least one wall. 
     
     
       9. The sharpening aid of  claim 7 , wherein the sharpening stone comprises a rod shape and is adapted to be arranged along a portion of the length of the recessed portion such that the rod shaped sharpening stone assumes the predetermined angle of the wall. 
     
     
       10. The sharpening  claim 7 , wherein the angle from vertical for that at least one wall is about 20 degrees from vertical. 
     
     
       11. A method for sharpening a blade of a cutlery device, comprising the steps of: 
       providing a stand having a base and two symetrically opposing wall structures protruding from the base; each wall structure having a wall fixed at a predetermined angle from vertical such that the wall structures form a substantially V-shaped recess;  
       providing a sharpening device having a tip portion and a sharpening surface along its length;  
       selectively engaging the tip of the sharpening device in the vertex of the V-shaped recess and selectively engaging a portion of the length of the sharpening device against either wall such that said device assumes the predetermined angle of the wall; and  
       holding said blade substantially vertical against said sharpening device for sharpening said blade at said angle.  
     
     
       12. The method for sharpening a blade of a cutlery device according to  claim 11 , 
       wherein the angled portion of the wall comprises a shaped recess.  
     
     
       13. The method for sharpening a blade of a cutlery device according to  claim 11 , 
       wherein the sharpening device comprises a rod shaped sharpening stone.  
     
     
       14. The method for sharpening a blade of a cutlery device according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of: 
       vertically sliding the blade against the sharpening device such that the blade traverses a portion of the sharpening device.  
     
     
       15. The sharpening aid for a cutlery device of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated sharpening device comprises a tip portion configured to selectively engage the vertex of the V-shaped recess. 
     
     
       16. The sharpening aid for a cutlery device of  claim 15 , wherein a portion of the length of the elongated sharpening device is selectively engageable with either of the walls fixed at a predetermined angle while the tip portion is engaged with the vertex of the V-shaped recess. 
     
     
       17. The sharpening aid for a cutlery device of  claim 15 , wherein the elongated sharpening device is freely moveable between the walls fixed at a predetermined angle while the tip portion is engaged with the vertex of the V-shaped recess.